Thrill Jung_E

"Jung_E," now available on Netflix, is the latest offering from the mastermind behind the critically acclaimed "Train to Busan," Yeon Sang-ho. It is a futuristic sci-fi action film with a deep philosophical theme about what it means to be human. This time, the filmmaker delves into the realm of sci-fi action flicks with profound philosophical themes, drawing inspiration from classics such as "The Terminator" and "Blade Runner.

The movie is set in 2194 and explores the idea of consciousness being downloaded into artificial intelligence. The story revolves around Yun Jung-yi, a highly skilled soldier, and the efforts of a team of experts to recreate her consciousness as an unstoppable killing machine named Jung_E.

The project is led by Seohyun, the daughter of Yun, who has been in a coma for 35 years, and the more clinical and cynical Sang-Hoon.It is a nod to classic sci-fi flicks such as "The Terminator" and "Blade Runner." Despite his skill in set-pieces, Yeon struggles to bring the central plot of "Jung_E" to life. The film's opening sequence showcases the director's mastery of action, but the majority of the film falls flat as it becomes bogged down in lengthy discussions of its themes.

Although Yeon's mastery in crafting thrilling set-pieces remains intact, if not improved, the film fails to fully utilize this skill as much of the runtime is occupied by extensive discussions of its central themes. The opening and closing sequences of the film showcase Yeon's genre prowess, but the lengthy middle segment is prone to dragging and lacks the emotional and philosophical depth necessary to carry the film.

The story takes place in the year 2194, where humanity has taken refuge in man-made shelters after making the planet uninhabitable. Three factions are at war, and a team of experts is working on a project to download the consciousness of a legendary soldier named Yun Jung-yi into an AI-powered killing machine named Jung_E. The project is led by Seohyun, who is also the daughter of Yun and is trying to save both her mother's consciousness and overcome her death.

She is opposed by the aloof and cynical Sang-Hoon, who is more concerned with the government shutting down the project than its moral implications. The story revolves around Yun Jung-yi, a highly skilled soldier, and the efforts of a team of experts to recreate her consciousness as an unstoppable killing machine named Jung_E. The project is led by Seohyun, the daughter of Yun, who has been in a coma for 35 years, and the more clinical and cynical Sang-Hoon.

The world has become uninhabitable, forcing humanity to seek refuge in man-made shelters. Factions of humanity are at war, and the fate of the war rests on the shoulders of a soldier named Yun Jung-yi (Kim Hyun-joo). The objective of a team of experts is to download Yun's consciousness into A.I., creating a killing machine named Jung_E. However, their efforts to virtually recreate Yun's death in combat keep failing. The project is led by Seohyun (Kang Soo-yeon), Yun's daughter, and Sang-Hoon (Ryu Kyung-soo), a cynical expert who is more concerned with the government's potential shutdown than any ethical boundaries.

The film explores intriguing ethical questions, such as the impact of economic inequity on consciousness after death, but it is bogged down by lengthy discussions between Sang-Hoon and Seohyun. The action sequences, including an exciting finale on a train, are too few and far between, leaving the viewer yearning for more.

While the movie raises interesting ethical questions about the future, including the issue of economic inequality even after death, it lacks emotional and philosophical depth. The majority of the film is spent in research chambers with characters discussing the progress of the project. The action sequences, although well executed, are few and far between and the film feels overlong and talky. However, the movie does set up a vision of the future that could support more interesting storytelling in a sequel.

In conclusion, "Jung_E" is a flawed but intriguing project from a talented director who just didn't quite have enough ideas to fill a 99-minute runtime. While the film may not stand on its own, it sets the stage for a richer and more ambitious sequel, one that might even feature some zombies. The opening action sequence and the last 15 minutes are impressive, but the bulk of the film is slow and repetitive. The movie may be better suited as the first episode of a TV show or as the starting point for a more ambitious project in the future. "Jung_E" feels like the first chapter in a larger story, but it falls short of being a satisfying standalone project. However, it does set up a vision of the future that has the potential to support more ambitious storytelling in a sequel.